To start the day, we had a freezing rain storm that left the roads and sidewalks covered in sheets of ice.  It was very treacherous with many car accidents.  Fortunately we all got where we were going safe and sound.

I got to attend my oldest son’s history fair this afternoon.  He worked so hard on his website about the Renaissance.  Many teachers commented on how well he did.  Now he’s worried he may be chosen to go on to the district level, something he really doesn’t want to do.  All he was concerned about was doing his best for a good grade.  I guess when you put that much work and thought into something there are rewards, even if they aren’t the ones you are looking for.  We will see if he is chosen or not.

This evening the hubby and I attended the temple.  It was stake temple night so many people from our ward and stake were there.  It is nice to be there with friends, to look around and see people you know and care about.

I woke up planning on having a stay at home and get some work done without having to worry about my appearance.  I realized half way through the day that that wasn’t happening.  I was going to Young Women’s tonight with my girls.  We went to White Elegance, a store that sells temple, baptism and blessing dresses.  They talked about the importance of the temple and preparing now for temple marriage.  It was well done.  The girls then got to try on a temple dress.  It was so neat to see all these beautiful young women all in white.  Although I didn’t have the day I had planned, it turned out better than I had expected as well.

I’m so not good at this blogging thing.  I planned on posting every day.  Ba!  That happened.  Then I forget to take pictures of things each day to share.  Oh well.

Every Tuesday, ladies in our ward meet somewhere for lunch.  It started out as playgroup with little ones at home but most everyone’s little ones aren’t so little any more and are in school.  My little man at home so looks forward to lunch group every week because he can play with one of his friends.  This week we went to Kneaders.  Yum!  I got the turkey cranberry croissant sandwich and the chocolate dome for dessert.  You can’t go to Kneaders without getting some kind of sweet treat.

After school we went bowling as a family to celebrate my birthday.  We didn’t go on my birthday because my honey was sick and one daughter had an important dance lesson she couldn’t miss.  We had fun even though the bowling alley we went to is in need of serious repairs.

After we got home from that we quickly ate and then the 2 youngest boys and I went to pack meeting.  We talked about faith and had some fun activities as object lessons on faith.  It was a good night.

Well I’m not even a week into this little experiment and I’m already behind.  This post is for Saturday, January 19th.

With Troy being sick as he has, we haven’t been able to do much.  He’s had a nasty respiratory infection that’s left him feeling lousy.  Most of today was spent being lazy but he was up to it so we went to a movie.  It was so awesome!!

We saw Les Misables.  This is one of my favorite stage productions but I wasn’t sure what I’d think of the movie version.  I was not disappointed.  It was done so well.  The singing wasn’t of the broadway caliber that I am used to but it was real.  For the first time I felt sympathy for Javert.  I understood his character in a way I never have before.  It could have been because facial expressions were more recognizable since film gives you the opportunity for subtlety that the stage does not.  But maybe it was just Russell Crowe’s performance.  Either way it was marvelous.

The movie that is. I attended the premier of Austenland, a movie based on the book by Shannon Hale, directed by Jerusha Hess and produced by Stephenie Meyer. The book was a riot, so fun and with these ladies at the helm I knew it had to be a hit. I’ve never been to Sundance Film Festival before but I’ve been watching for this movie to come out. When I saw it would premier at Sundance I knew I needed to be there.

It was so nice to get out of the valley and the pea soup inversion. The air was clean and clear and the sun was warm while waiting in line to go into the theater. I talked with a lady who has come from New York the last three years. I had never really grasped the magnitude of this film festival until I got up there and saw all the people from all over the country and world.

We were at the Eccles theater which I believe is the auditorium for the high school there the rest of the year. It was a large venue so there were many people. Unlike in a regular movie theater, the front row was far enough from the screen that it wouldn’t have been miserable. I was a few rows back from that and it was perfect. Before the movie began Jerusha Hess was introduced and she then proceeded to introduce the movie. Then it began.

Hilarity abounded. I laughed so hard. I love the cast! Keri Russell plays the main character, a major Jane Austen geek who is in need of an intervention and so decides to spend her life savings to vacation at an estate in England that efficates Regency period activities for its Jane Austen fan lady guests. Jane Seymour plays the owner of the resort, Austenland. Jennifer Coolidge is one of the two other ladies attending this given session at the resort. She is perfect for the part she plays as the irrepressible American heiress. I also think I have a couple new Hollywood crushes to boot in the two main men, J.J. Feilds and Bret McKenzie. I’m particularly partial to J.J. Feilds but it may just be the character he plays. Who doesn’t love a good Darcy.

After the movie there was a Q&A with the cast, director, producer and author. It’s cool to see some of the high up Hollywood types dressed down and natural. Where else would you attend a premier in jeans and snow boots. That’s the closest I’ve ever been to world known celebrities. Crazy!

Although I went by myself (I could only get one ticket), I had a wonderful time. Sundance is a great opportunity to see work by up and coming movie makers. For those of us who refuse to attend R rated movies there is one problem. None of the movies competing at Sundance are rated. Many I’m sure would get an R rating and one or two NC-17 but if you can ensure that what you are seeing fits within your moral set, then I highly recommend attending.

And be sure to be watching for Austenland in a theater near you. I would be highly surprised if it didn’t make it into national circulation. Truly a great movie which I’m sure will have a PG rating. Can’t beat a good rom-com.

Happy Birthday to ME!!

Celebrated my birthday by doing nothing I didn’t want to do. The kids cooked dinner and my sweet daughter made me a cake, from scratch! How I love my family. Don’t know what I’m getting yet as it’s still being shipped. My hubby ordered it before Christmas but apparently the company lost the order. I’ll post something when I get it, whatever it is. I had a good day. It’s always nice when you can have a lazy day with your sick at home honey to share it.

In conjunction with my birthday, I’ve decided to start a blog to document the next year of my life. Y43/365 I figure it’s a good way to track my progress in life and see where I am in comparison a year from now.